Stephen Basso was born in Brooklyn New York. He attended evening sessions at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan for several years but by his own admission has been largely self taught drawing influence from various sources. He credits many of his early mentors from Beckmann, Guston Hartley de Koonig and Goya to Rubens Robert Crumb and Max Fleisher.

Some of his artistic pursuits include humorous assessments of the old masters as well as fresh insights on the mystical visions of Latin America with whom he shares a deep sense of affection

Basso often refers to his work as a kind of stew when different ingredients blended together can create something new yet familiar simultaneously.